WilliamJ.LyonsJr.

William J. Lyons, Jr.Former State Senator, WWII VeteranWilliam J. (Bill) Lyons, Jr., 92, departed the world on April 11, 2014, with family at his side. He was born in Norwalk in 1921, the son of the late William J. Lyons, Sr. and Mary B. Lyons. He was the husband of the late Patricia R. Lyons for 50 years.A graduate of Oratory Preparatory School in Summit, NJ, he attended Notre Dame University until enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1943. He served in Europe with the Third Army commanded by George Patton, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and serving as Military Police Chief in the German city of Regensburg (Pop. 135,000) from August, 1945 to March, 1946, at the age of 24. He remained in the Army Reserve after the war, leaving the Army in 1955 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.He returned to Norwalk where he became President of Lyons Construction Company, which had been founded in 1920 by his father. Lyons Construction built many well-known structures in town, including both of Norwalk's post offices, buildings at Norwalk Hospital, Naramake School, a major expansion of Nathan Hale Middle School, and St. Thomas Church. Lyons later became General Manager of the Third District Electric Department, upgrading the system and establishing its reputation as the part of Norwalk that doesn't lose power in storms.He was long active in Norwalk politics and government. He served as a Third Taxing District Commissioner, served two terms in the State House of Representatives (representing East Norwalk) and a term representing Norwalk and Darien in the State Senate. He later served as Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission.Bill is survived by his brother John F. Lyons of Hobe Sound, Florida and by his children Michael W. Lyons and his wife Elizabeth of Norwalk, Barbara L. Moseley and her husband Kevin of Spring Hill, Florida, Timothy R. Lyons of Norwalk, Edward J. Lyons and his wife Lizabeth of Palm Harbor, Florida, and Susan M. Lyons of Medfield, Massachusetts, as well as by his grandchildren Erin and Michael Moseley, Cassandra, Michael and Caroline Shortsleeve, James, Claire and Krystina Lyons, and Joseph Lyons. He was predeceased by his sister Mary B. Grinnan and brother Thomas R. Lyons.His family will receive friends on Thursday, April 24, from 5:00 - 7:00pm at Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Avenue, Norwalk. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 25, at 10:00 am at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 203 East Avenue, Norwalk. Internment with full military honors will follow at St. John Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk.www.collins-funeral.com